We at Philly Temps & Perm™ know that dealing with a poorly performing employee can be frustrating. It can be complex and time consuming to make sure you get the right result – an improvement in their performance, or failing that, them being managed out of the organization in a fair and legal way.

It is likely you will meet with a poorly performing employee at least twice; the first time to tell them how their performance is ineffective and set targets for improvement, and the second to review their progress and make a decision about their future. In practice, you may have several other steps to follow, but the conversations will follow the same pattern, and if you master that pattern, you will find it easier to deal with any conversation about performance effectively.

And what is the pattern? You prepare. You talk. You listen. You consider. You decide. You communicate your decision. In basic terms, it is as simple as that.

Prepare

Preparation involves making sure you know company policy and what authority you have to make decisions; you know where the employee’s performance falls short (and you have specific examples), you’ve planned how you want the meeting to go, you’ve given the employee appropriate notice and information in accordance with company policy, and you’ve identified a suitable time and venue.

Talk

Next, you talk. You may have a predetermined structure to follow or perhaps an agenda you have drawn up, in either case, you need to explain the reason for the meeting and what you want to achieve – to discuss the performance issues and what needs to be done about them. Then you give them the evidence of their performance shortfalls.

Listen

Now you give the employee the opportunity to talk and you need to listen. The quickest way to make sure someone doesn’t engage with you is to make them think you’re ignoring what they say. And the only way you are going to get an improvement in performance is if they are working harder, better, or differently. You need their participation. That said, if they refuse to make the effort, then you can still take action. It’s not about handing over control. It’s about managing the situation.

It may be that there are some issues that you’re not aware of. They may not have been trained to carry out that particular task. They may have to rely on a third party which is causing the problems. They may have a health problem that impacts on their ability. There can be as many reasons as there are staff.

They may also get emotional. You might face anger or distress. You can never tell how someone will react until you’re in that situation. Don’t let this side-track you. If they become too emotional to carry on, take a break, but always make sure you get back to the matter at hand. As a general rule, having evidence of performance issues makes it easier to deal with any emotional reactions since it is harder to ignore facts. It also helps you deal with those who might use an emotional reaction as a tactic to delay the discussion.

Consider

This leads neatly on to considering the information you now have. No effective manager would make a business decision without having the relevant facts or without weighing the options. Performance management is as much a business decision as any other issue you will face. Staff pay is often the biggest budgetary outgoing, where even the lowest paid member of staff can cost tens of thousands over the course of two or three years. Dealing with performance issues is a key opportunity to ensure you get the best return on that investment.

Decide

Now you have the decision to make. You’ll know from your preparation which options are open to you: it may be a verbal or written warning, it may be dismissal. Whatever it is, ensuring that you have been fair and followed policy will mean your decision is more likely to stand if the employee decides to challenge it. It would be unfortunate to end up fighting a legal battle and losing, just for the sake of following the process properly.

Communicate

Once you have made your decision, you need to communicate it to the employee. This needs to be done in the most appropriate way. Face-to-face is usually best, with written confirmation including an action plan. This should be given to them as quickly as possible to both capitalise on the momentum from your discussion and to reinforce its importance. There should also be clear demarcation between responsibilities, especially since the employee is the only one who can improve their performance.

And how do you know if you get it right? The employee goes away knowing what they have to do, how they have to do it, when they need to do it by, they have no illusions about the part they have to play, they know the support they can expect from you and the organisation, and they understand the consequences of not meeting their targets.

And finally, it can be uncomfortable for any manager having to have these discussions with an employee, but if you do it in a fair, reasonable and supportive way, you can be their biggest ally, even if, in the end, it doesn’t work out.

At Philly Temps & Perm we know that you spend only a certain amount of time in the office. It would be a bad idea if your concentration is spiraling, not being able to focus on one task. You would end up missing deadlines or rushing to meet them.

Are there times when you find yourself mindlessly clicking away on your office computer browser? Alright, so you start every day with a To-Do list, but you soon find yourself becoming distracted on tasks that are the least of your priorities, or just, simply, procrastinating. Keep in mind that you are only in the office for a certain period of time during the day, so it is important to make the most out of it.

Being productive at work isn’t exactly hard; you just need to know how to increase your output. That is, you either work hard and redouble your efforts or you work smart. The latter is preferable especially in time constraints and that means, it is required that you learn how to manage your timetable.

So how do you get your focus on and get some work done? Here is the list of five easy ways to improve your productivity at work:

1. Set Your Schedules

You might say ‘Isn’t this the same as a To-Do List? You know those things don’t work for me.’ Do not assume that setting your schedules and your to-do list are the same. While the to-do list enumerates what you have to do for the day, it does not always mean that you can effectively manage your time.

Think of it as a time table on what are the tasks you should be doing by the hour. The problem with To-Do Lists is that they can be counterproductive: these lists enumerate what you have to do, but not give you the appropriate time. You cannot focus one task at hand, but instead your focus would shift to the rest of the projects you have to finish.

The human brain is a muscle and it can only really focus for 25 minutes. You may notice as time progresses, your attention and focus shifts elsewhere, like for example, the rest of the projects and what can you to finish them within the day. A time table keeps track of what you should achieve or what you are able to finish within a designated time. Finished or not, proceed to the next task. This will help you increase your productivity level and get the results that you need.

Also make sure to establish a contingency plan. There are factors such as your personal life can get in the way of your schedules.

2. Have A Routine

After you have established a schedule, it is time to establish a routine. For example, what time will you answer all your emails? What time would you be doing these sheets? What time should you take a break?

Routines may sound bland, but they can actually make you more productive. You have set your concentration and your focus on a designated field or topic. Even checking your emails, which category do you check first, sets your brain to kick start the concentration it needs. Routines actually help you condition for your day.

3. Stretch and Take a Break

Think you can get more work done by sitting on that chair until the end of your shift? Think again.

According to Dr. James Levine, sitting for a prolonged period of time can actually increase cholesterol levels and excess waistline fat, high blood sugar, high blood pressure, and also the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Simply put: sitting for long periods of time is harmful. Spending a few hours in the gym during the weekend is not enough to deter these health risks. In a study conducted by Stockholm University doing exercise at work helps increase in productivity levels. Learn how to manage your energy and stress levels. Try taking a break after every hour to get up and stretch. One of such workplace exercise is, instead of sitting down during meetings, walk laps with your colleagues. It helps circulation and improve stamina after a long day sitting down.

4. Do Not Procrastinate

You have set a schedule and a routine for each of your task, but that does not mean that you will have that “I’ll do it tomorrow instead’ attitude. That is no longer time management; that is called procrastinating.

You only stay in the workplace for a certain period of time so learn how much work you can do it that shift. Making time and learning how to manage your tasks, helps you increase your productivity levels, and helps you minimize your distractions. Discipline yourself to not put off tasks to the next day. Learn to do them now efficiently.

5. Do Not Stop Learning and Improving

Being productive is a learning process. It is not just about making time tables or routines, but it builds your character on how to discipline yourself to overcome any obstacle. Improving your productivity and your schedules may not remain the same; it is about overcoming challenges and hardships, avoiding bad habits, and finding ways to achieve your goals efficiently. Always keep your mind open, accept challenges, appreciate your success and even your failures.

Improving your productivity at work is not at all hard to learn. Always remember to work hard and to work smart.

If you are looking for a position where you can be productive and use these helpful tips or have us place a quality candidate for your next role, please contact Christine Faville at christine@phillytemps.com.

Posted in
Uncategorized |
Comments Off on 5 Easy Ways to Improve Your Productivity at Work

Our employee of the month for August has a constant smile, a willingness to get the job done and she exudes a positive energy that uplifts the people around her. She also happens to be a dedicated, professional and talented person who performs the tasks of each assignment we give her without hesitation. We have not found the task yet that Anna could not perform with verve and excellence.

Anna happens to be on vacation this week in Monsagro, Salamanca (population 149), but she took the time to answer a few questions for us.

Philly Temps (PT): How long have you lived in the Philadelphia, PA area?

Anna R (AR): I was born in Philadelphia, but lived eleven years in San Francisco and a couple years in Spain. We have been back in Philly for the last seventeen years.

PT: What was your work experience prior to working with Philly Temps?

AR: My main profession has been dancer and dance teacher. I focus on Flamenco from Spain but have also been involved in Ballet and Modern dance my whole life. I taught Spanish Dance at University of the Arts (two blocks from Philly Temps & Perm Office) for fourteen years, but have supplemented my Arts income with office and restaurant jobs, also designing and sewing costumes for dancers. I also ran my own Spanish Dance company.

PT: How did you hear about Philly Temps?

AR: I heard about Philly Temps from a Facebook friend. It had been such a long time since I did office work that I was not sure it would work out-but the Philly Temps folks helped me figure out what skills I had that could be applied to the jobs they staff.

AR: I think the most memorable job I did for Philly Temps was the promotion for a Scottish Whiskey company at Dilworth Plaza. I was helping the public take practice golf putts and enjoying my coworkers dressed in kilts and masks. I think every Center City character showed up that day-even Philly Jesus.

PT: What are your long-term career goals?

AR: My long-term goals are not to have long term goals! I will continue teaching dance-especially to our Philly public school kids-and continue trying new things until my path becomes clear.

PT: What are your hobbies and interests outside of work?

AR: I dance, teach dance, support dance! And I love to cook and eat. And I have an eighteen-month-old granddaughter I adore.

PT: What advice can you give to prospective candidates that want to work with Philly Temps?

AR: My advice for prospective employees of Philly Temps is: try whatever opportunities are presented to you, you never know what hidden skills you may have, and get to know your fellow Philly Temps workers-everyone has an interesting story you can learn from. And one more thing: be on time, like I tell my dance students-showing up is the most important path to success!

Posted in
Uncategorized |
Comments Off on A Job well done, several jobs actually

After 6 years and 35 assignments, it is high time we recognized Rene B. for representing Philly Temps & Perm as well as each of the clients she has worked with, so well.

Rene is not only professional and eager to perform each task given to the best of her ability, she remains pleasant and upbeat under any circumstance. We can actually hear the smile in her voice when we call her for an assignment.

Our clients have shared nothing but praise for Rene, and we are proud to have her part of our Temp Family.

We recently had the chance to get to know Rene a little better.

Philly Temps (PT): How long have you lived in the Philadelphia, PA area?

Rene B (RB):I was born and raised in Philadelphia, PA

PT: What was your work experience prior to working with Philly Temps?

RB:After graduating high school, I was employed in the banking industry and moved on to employment with Bell of Pennsylvania from 1970. My positions while employed at Bell of PA were clerical and I was promoted to a management position from which I retired in 1996. After retirement, I worked in my church as well as a full-time Caregiver for Mother and Sister.

PT: How did you hear about Philly Temps?

RB: Learned of Philly Temps through internet while looking for temp agencies to supplement income while Caregiving. Philly Temp allowed me to work around my schedule which was perfect for me at that time.

RB:In May, 2017, I was assigned to LightFair International Trade Show & Conference held at the Philadelphia Convention Center. My position was as Administrative Assistant to Vice President. This was a fun but challenging assignment. Over 600 exhibits were on display and my tasks were to help staff set up Show Office to receive exhibitors, guests and company upper management. This was a fast-paced assignment and much of my time was spent alone in the Show Office. Knowing how to handle irate exhibitors, frustrated attendees who stopped into the Show Office with various problem situations, a staff who had requests and expected quick results were a big part of the day. My previous experiences with Philly Temp prepared me to meet the challenge of this assignment with confidence that it would be a win-win. Also working as a Registration Rep could also be demanding but enjoyable. Presently, my position at Salus University, as an Administrative Assistant is very rewarding.

PT: What are your long-term career goals?

RB:My long-term career goals are to continue with Philly Temps with the great assignments. As a retiree, I enjoy keeping in touch with the business world, meeting new people, learning new things and staying active technology. Philly Temps allows me to do that.

PT: What are your hobbies and interests outside of work?

RB:I enjoy travel out of state and country. I try to take one big trip each year. I enjoy trail walking and bike riding. My favorite music is Jazz – especially outdoor Jazz concerts.

PT: What advice can you give to prospective candidates that want to work with Philly Temps?

RB:Develop a strong positive work ethic. Be consistently on time. Command your present skills while learning new skills. Dress professionally from head-to-toe. Give respect to earn respect. Own each assignment – as if it were your own personal business. You want each day to be a successful day!!

Owning the 76ers is lofty goal, but it’s one we are confident can be achieved by Kristen G. We have no doubt that it could happen. That is just one of the reasons we have selected Kristen as our Employee of the Month for June, 2017.

From h er many assignments working with Convention Attendees, where she remained calm no matter how many people poured through the doors, to her work as a receptionist, coordinating and transferring calls with ease and even the time we had her dressed in a Grouse Costume for a Product Launch, Kristen has been the epitome of professionalism and her positive attitude is contagious.

KG: While working the Women’s Engineer conference I saw a Ben Franklin actor riding in a hover round. Beside him was a Betsy Ross actress carrying a flag as they spoke with a security guard………..just very memorable.

PT: What are your long-term career goals?

KG: In the future, I hope to have my own swimwear line, a brick and mortar samba costumer business, own a local occult shop, start an mixed martial arts talent agency and if I can squeeze it in I would like to own the 76’ers.

PT: What are your hobbies and interests outside of work?

KG: Making inflammatory political statements through art. I also like to craft wreathes and sew or knit clothing

PT: What advice can you give to prospective candidates that want to work with Philly Temps?

KG: My advice is to be consistent and on time. It’s all the agency asks of you and that’s a good trade for payment.

Posted in
Uncategorized |
Comments Off on Great Attitude = Great Employee

Dignified, distinguished, poised and professional. These are just some of the adjectives that have been used to
describe the Philly Temps & Perm Employee of the Month for April 2017, Walter V.

Walter’s ability to remain calm, productive and good humored under any circumstance along with his ability to make every person he speaks to know they are the only one in the room makes us wish that he would teach a master class in customer service.

Walter has been representing Philly Temps, Our Clients and Philadelphia for 11 years. Rain or shine, early or late, ‘Mr. V’ has always brought a huge smile to each of his assignments (All 267 of them).

Simply put, Walter is a class act and if you’ve worked with him you are better for it.

We recently met with Walter in an effort to get to know him a little better.

PHILLY TEMPS (PT): How long have you lived in the Philadelphia, PA area?

WALTER V (WV): I originally moved here back in 1960 from Pittsburgh.

PT: What was your work experience prior to working with Philly Temps?

WV: I did some work for Pennsylvania State Employment Service and then I worked for the City of Philadelphia Relocation Department and after I left there I worked for Housing and Urban Development.

PT: How did you hear about Philly Temps?

Walter V: When I retired I was looking for something to do and I signed up with the Philadelphia Conventions Visitors Bureau, then Philly Temps took over and I’ve been with you guys ever since.

Walter V: To be honest they all are memorable. I really enjoy working with Philly Temps. I appreciate the people that I come in contact with every event that I work because I love meeting new people and Philly Temps makes that possible. My co-worker Reggie is just a blast to work with and that John Daly is always keeping me laughing.

PT: What are your hobbies?

Walter V: Some of the things I like to do with my free time is gardening. I really love working outside with just about anything but maintaining my garden would be my top one.

PT: What advice can you give to prospective candidates that want to work with Philly Temps?

Walter V: Some tips that I would give to someone trying to work with Philly Temps is NEATNESS! The way you dress and carry yourself is the first thing that a person sees so you have to make a great first impression and make sure you are clean

It may be cliché to say that people you work with can become like a family, but when you have had the honor of working with someone for almost seven years, how they n be anything but?

Philly Temps & Perm is proud to name Jon Covert our Employee of the Month for March, 2017.

We first met Jon when he was a Freshman at Temple University, and since that time we have watched him grow to be a thoughtful, hardworking, talented and genuinely nice person.

There have been 104 assignments since that Spring of 2010, from Convention Registration to Banquet Server, to Usher to his current assignment at a Tax Attorney’s office, and each one was completed successfully with our clients singling Jon out as having done an outstanding job.

His career goal of supporting himself with music prevent us from keeping him working long term, but even when he has a gig at the TLA or any number of other places, he always makes it to work the next day with a good attitude and a smile for his co-workers.

Let’s get to know Jon a little better.

Philly Temps (PT): How long have you lived in the Philadelphia, PA area?

Getting things done is what Deborah Johnson is all about, which is just one of the reasons she is the Philly Temps & Perm Employee of the Month for February 2017.

Deborah was not only a shining star among the over 200 staff Philly Temps & Perm employed during the Democratic National Convention this past July, but she was instrumental in spreading the word about our need for workers for that historic event.

Deborah proved helpful yet again one month later when she helped us recruit for a huge project in West Philadelphia. This was a first job for many of those referrals, and as giving back to the community is so important to Deborah, it was a perfect situation.

Philly Temps & Perm, and all of the clients we have sent Deborah to, are proud to have her on the team.

Join us in getting to know this superstar a little bit better.

Philly Temps (PT): How long have you lived in the Philadelphia, PA area?

Deborah Johsnon (DJ): I’ve lived in Philadelphia for many years.

PT: What was your work experience prior to working with Philly Temps?

DJ: Management within city government, the Revenue Department for over 20 years.

Shining a spotlight on our Employee of the month for January 2017 is a challenge as she is constantly on the move.

Since joining the Philly Temps & Perm team in April of 2016, Abeni has been seen at the airport making sure the Olympic Ping Pong teams were getting from gate to hotels, at Dilworth Plaza supervising a street team of Kilt wearing grouses, and at countless hotels during the Democratic National Convention where she was instrumental in making sure that delegates and visitors got around our city without issue. Abeni did all of this as well as taking on projects for Law Firms, Insurance Companies and helping keep a Theater Box office organized.

Philly Temps deals with such diverse types of businesses, we need people like Abeni who remain calm, productive and forward thinking under any circumstance and in any environment. Abeni is our Employee of the Month as she does it all with a smile that lets you know the job will get done.

We recently checked in with Abeni so that we could get to know here a little better.

Philly Temps (PT): How long have you lived in the Philadelphia, PA area?

Abeni C. (AC) I was born in Philadelphia, raised in South Jersey and returned in 2012 after almost 20 years.

AC: DNC (Democratic National Convention) 2016! Working for the client to ensure that local transportation ran smoothly for the delegates was challenging, exciting, and fun.

PT: What was your work experience prior to working with Philly Temps?

AC: In my most recent position, I was employed by the Smithsonian Institution, and worked with a small team to create professional development events for science educators across the country.

PT: What are your long term career goals?

AC: I’m still figuring out exactly what I’d like to do when I grow up.

PT: What are your hobbies and interests outside of work?

AC: Knitting and reading

PT: What advice can you give to prospective candidates that want to work with Philly Temps?

AC: Philly Temps really knows how to make their employees feel supported and valuable, and I love working with them. My advice would be to make every assignment count. Whether the job lasts for 2 days or 2 months–you’re an important part of helping the client maintain their daily operations. Your skills, your enthusiasm, and your flexibility will always be appreciated!

Because Philly Temps Staff is the best in the city, selecting just one employee to showcase each month is a challenge, but we know that our Employee of the Month for December 2016, Josh P. is worthy of the distinction.

Although Josh is one of our most reserved employees, don’t let the soft spoken tone fool you. His Diligence, Professionalism, Abilities and Customer Service Skills are easily understood.

From his assignments doing Data Entry, Reception and Mail Room to his time registering Convention Attendees and Greeting the Olympic Teams at the Airport, Josh has represented Philly Temps and our clients superbly.

Thank you for all of your hard work Josh, and thank you for answering the questions that help us to know you just a little better!

PhillyTemps (PT): How long have you lived in the Philadelphia, PA area?

Josh P. (JP): I first came to Philadelphia in 2011 to attend college. After a few years of splitting my time between the city and my hometown in Lancaster County, I finally settled in Philadelphia in 2014.

PT: How did you hear about Philly Temps?

JP: I was looking around for entry-level clerical work shortly after graduating from college. Some searching online led me to Philly Temps.

PT: What is your previous work experience?

JP: When I’m not working at events or in offices for Philly Temps, I’m an annotator at a linguistic research lab, which essentially means I’m doing much of the grunt work on research projects.

PT: What are your long term career goals?

JP: I intend to pursue a master’s degree in either library science or museum studies and eventually find work in, you guessed it, a library or a museum.

PT: What is your life like outside of work? What are your hobbies? Are you involved in your community?

JP: I play drums in a few bands and have a studio where my band-mates and I help singer-songwriters record their songs with a band behind them. I spend my “off” time writing and recording music and touring around the country.

PT: How has working as a temp been helpful to you?

JP: Working as a temp has given me some unique work experience, but has also allowed me to pursue other hobbies and interests that I don’t receive a paycheck for.

PT: Has working as a temp changed your mind about your long term career goals? Inspired you in any way? Motivated to achieve more?

JP: My temp work has mostly shown me that I’m capable of much more than I typically give myself credit for. I started working for Philly Temps with a very small comfort zone, and while that may not have grown substantially, I have learned that stepping outside of it is an exhilarating and fulfilling experience.

JP: It’s going to be tough to top working for the Democratic National Convention. I met a lot of interesting people, did many things that I couldn’t have imagined myself doing before, and worked harder in that week than I had in a long time. At the end of it, I was thoroughly exhausted, but very proud of what I’d been able to accomplish.